Mojave National Preserve + Arizona

[parakitaMol.]

Has anyone driven from LA to Vegas with any useful tips?

Also when leaving Vegas - routes or recommendations to stay or places to visit after the Hover Dam heading down to Arizona.

Thanks

[Spudler]

parakitaMol. said:

Has anyone driven from LA to Vegas with any useful tips?
Thanks

Yes, and this is a serious reply, dont nod off!. Its a very boring road and, for the most, stays at a constant speed. Drove it several times and its not uncommon to see cars and motorhomes etc that have left the road for no apparent reason. Had one happen a couple of cars ahead of us.

[parakitaMol.]

Spudler said:

parakitaMol. said:

Has anyone driven from LA to Vegas with any useful tips?
Thanks

Yes, and this is a serious reply, dont nod off!. Its a very boring road and, for the most, stays at a constant speed. Drove it several times and its not uncommon to see cars and motorhomes etc that have left the road for no apparent reason. Had one happen a couple of cars ahead of us.

Thanks, good point - unfortunately there aren't many alternataves to that route H15 - we were thinking maybe take Route 40 and then up through Searchlight and Henderson. More interested in what to do and see over a couple of days in Arizona after Vegas.

[Matt Harper]

We spent a few days in Arizona and Southern Utah - just cruising around, a couple of years ago.
We drove from the Grand Canyon to Moab UT and stayed in Tuba City in the middle of the Painted Desert. The scenery and landscapes and dawn/sunset were architypal SW USA/Roadrunner & Whiley Coyote. The route afforded the added bonus of passing through Monumant Valley - one of the most familiar, but spectacular aspects of region.
The poverty, squalour and tawdriness of the once very proud Navajo Nation was horribly depressing, however.

[Ian Lancs]

Can't help with a different route (I worked near Mojave a few years ago and there's really only one way - but yes stay awake!)

To help with the staying awake, you can always look forward to this:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2893 (It's well worth it )

[parakitaMol.]

Thanks Matt and Ian

I can't wait to visit Bob's Big Boy coffee shop in Baker and see the thermometer

[Don]

We toured Arizona many years back.

Highlights were:

The Grand Canyon - it may be popular but it is good.
Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.
Sedona.
Monument Valley (just over the border into Utah).

Took about a week IIRC. HTH

[parakitaMol.]

Yep thanks - I can't wait.

We must now decide on what vehicle to hire - it's veering from sensible air-con utility vehicle to absurd classic sports cars.

[Don]

parakitaMol. said:

Yep thanks - I can't wait.

We must now decide on what vehicle to hire - it's veering from sensible air-con utility vehicle to absurd classic sports cars.

They'll try and get you to take a 4x4. Even if you do the driving tour around Monument Valley you won't need one.

Last time we were in North America we got a convertible Mustang. It was fun.

[parakitaMol.]

Don said:

parakitaMol. said:

Yep thanks - I can't wait.

We must now decide on what vehicle to hire - it's veering from sensible air-con utility vehicle to absurd classic sports cars.

They'll try and get you to take a 4x4. Even if you do the driving tour around Monument Valley you won't need one.

Last time we were in North America we got a convertible Mustang. It was fun.

Yeah, that's fine, last year we drove Pacific Highway 1. from San Francisco along the coast. We didn't need one then. Dr Parakitamol likes to throw the bags in the back. That's why. And thinks he should have been an ice road trucker instead of an oncologist. Except he drives like crap and would actually be dead if he was an ice-road trucker. I just want aircon and for him not to be driving and I will be happy.